History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s6.24

v1.c24.s6.24

Varāhamihira makes it clear that the treatment of the subject of dakargala was for the digging of wells (Bṛhatsaṃhitā 53. 77, 121- 123). He considers wells situated in the Āgneya (east-south), Nairṛta (south-west) and Vāyavya (west-north) directions to be inauspicious and recommends their placement in the other five directions (verses 97-98). Likewise, he recommends a vāpī (reservoir) which is east-west long and not south-north; the latter is destroyed by the water agitated by winds. In such a reservoir the flow of water is to be enclosed by strong wood, stones or baked bricks and the embankments are to be hardened by being crushed by elephants, horses and other animals (verse 118). At one place there was to be an outlet gate with a well made bed, the channel lined with stones and a panel, without aperture, fixed in a frame and covered by grit heaped against it (verse 120).